I do not own any Jak and Daxter characters.

CHAPTER 3

Taj watched his little brother as he ran along the streets of Spargus City. He chuckled as he headed for the light eco vent in the market and jumped in. Taj stopped for a minute and reached his hand in to pull some out. suddenly Damas stopped running and turned back to Taj a look a fright in his eyes. Taj frowned and walked up to him he knelt down to look at him "Whats up little bro?" he asked cheerfully.

"I don't want to go to school Taj, their mean" Damas said looking down.

Taj looked up as his twin and younger sister arrived next to him, Anya looked down at him confused he shrugged and said "Damas and I are just gonna go look at something over by the beach, you take Lexa to school" he said smiling standing up and taking Damas' hand.

Anya grabbed Taj's arm "What's going on Taj, daddy will kill you if your late and you make Damas late?" she whispered.

"Mama wanted me to find out why Damas doesn't like school anymore, I think I have a good idea just give me a few minutes okay?" he whispered back. Anya nodded and started leading Lexa to school while Taj lead Damas down to a huge rock over looking the ocean. He sat down and patted the spot next to him for Damas, he smiled and sat down next to his brother, Taj looked down at him "So Prince Damas, wanna tell me what's going on?" he smiled.

Damas shrugged "I'm not really a prince, just a freak" he breathed.

Taj gasped and wrapped an arm around his brother "What...who the hell told you that?" Taj growled angry.

"Them older boys at school, they said I was a freak because of my powers and that I would never be king like grandfather Damas" Damas sniffed.

Taj held his anger in and looked down at his weeping brother "Do they pick on you every day?" he asked.

Damas nodded "They try to get me to turn dark, and Tex, they say I shouldn't play with her because she's a rat" he said wiping his eyes.

Taj felt his own eyes starting to fill up and burn "Damas listen to me" Damas looked up at Taj "You are not a freak, I have the same powers as you and Anya and Lexa and dad for that matter just because we're a little different it doesn't make us freaks, and Tex, she may be small and furry and orange but she's your best friend right?" Damas nodded "People, cruel, mean people are always going to want to call you names and pull you down because of who you are and what you can do but just remember you are a Mar, and even if you don't get to be king you'll always be the king's brother and one day you will be a great warrior like dad and grandfather" Taj smiled.

Damas smiled weakly "I don't want to go to school Taj" he said again.

"I know" Taj said hugging him "Come on let's go see dad and mama"

Damas shook his head "No they'll get mad" he sniffed

"No they won't when you tell them whats going on, come on little bro they can help" Taj said getting up and pulling Damas up.

Damas looked up at Taj "Taj when your king, will you banish anyone I ask you to?" he asked

Taj laughed "We'll see".

Jak rolled off Keira panting and pulled her towards him, he heard the front door open and frowned "Was that the door?" he asked.

"I think so" Keira said jumping up and pulling on her shorts and t-shirt as they heard a voice call up the stairs "Dad...Mama?".

Jak looked at Keira and called back pulling his shorts on "Taj, why aren't you on the air train yet?" he said as Keira started for the door and headed down stairs Jak behind her trying to catch his breath.

When they arrived in the lounge Damas ran to Keira and flung himself into her, she hugged him as he cried into her chest. Jak looked up at Taj "Son, what's going on?" he asked confused looking down at his crying youngest son again.

Taj sat down on the couch and looked up at his father "I was taking Damas to school and mama asked if I'd ask Damas why he didn't like school anymore, I thought I'd just you know ask him he'd say it was boring and that would be that" he took a deep breath "Anyway we we're nearly at the school when Damas stopped running and turned and said he didn't want to go to school, so I took him for a chat on the beach while Anya took Lexa".

Keira stood up carrying Damas and sat next to Taj "What did he say?" she asked stroking Damas' back to try and sooth the sobs that shook from his body.

Just then Anya walked in "Taj where the hell did you go?" she looked around the room, the sight of her little brother crying stopped the anger and she rushed over to him and Keira "Whats going on?" she asked.

"That's what we're just about to find out, Taj go on" Jak said.

Taj nodded "Well Damas said that some of the older boys at school have been picking on him, telling him he's not a prince just a freak and that he shouldn't play with Tex because she's just a rat" Taj's voice started to crack "He told me they try to make him turn dark dad, they try to bring out the darkness in him" he said looking up at Jak.

Keira gasped "Why would they do that?" she said rocking her child.

"They tried to make him dark. I'll kill them?!" Anya yelled jumping up, her own dark eco starting to fizz and crackled over her skin.

Jak grabbed his daughter and pulled her to his chest "No you won't angel, just calm down" he said gently. Jak waited a minute for Anya to calm before kissing her forehead and letting her go, he walked over to Keira and Damas and knelt in front of them, he moved Damas' face to look at him "Son, did you change, did they get you to change?" he asked, Damas shook his head "Good, but you must have been angry or upset or frightened, how did you get rid of the dark eco?"

"I...I... would just...j...just go in the bathroom and change for a minute, a...and...and then get some light eco...on...on the way home" Damas sobbed.

"Thats why you've been tired and quiet" Keira asked, Damas nodded "I'm so sorry my baby boy".

Jak smiled at his son "Damas, you're a very strong boy, and you just remember that you are Prince Damas Mar of Spargus and Haven City".

"I know, Taj said he'd banish them when he was king" Damas smiled.

Jak laughed and got up "Did he now?" he reached out for Damas and took him off Keira "Why don't you stay with me today?" he smiled hugging his son.

"Yes please daddy, but can I sleep first?" Damas asked.

Jak nodded "Okay, I'll take him to bed" he smiled as Keira got up and kissed her son,before going into the kitchen and sitting down at the table.

Taj walked in after her and wrapped his arms around her "It's okay mama, Damas is okay" he smiled.

Keira hugged her son and smiled "I know, thanks to you, thank you Taj, thank you for talking to him"

He shrugged and blushed "You told me too, and I couldn't make him go to school in that state could I?" he chuckled.

"You did the right thing son, bringing him home" Came Jak's voice from the door way as he and Anya walked in, Jak pulled Keira up and enveloped her in his arms, her head crashed into his chest and he could feel the warm tears running down her cheeks "Ssshhhh its okay baby, he's fine, he's gonna be just fine"

"I can't believe I didn't notice, he's my baby boy and I didn't notice how miserable he were" Keira sniffed

Jak rocked her gently "I didn't notice either".

"None of us noticed" Anya said sadly

Taj nodded as he watched his father comfort his mother "Maybe if I wasn't being such a pain and getting into so much trouble, then maybe one of us would have noticed".

"It's not your fault Taj, after all if it wasn't for you we wouldn't even know now" Jak smiled at his son.

Anya nodded "And I was about the rip your head off for getting us in trouble again" she giggled.

Keira let go of Jak and walked over to Taj, she wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tight, she let go of him and kissed his forehead "Now you two better get off to school, I'll write you a note explaining why your late" she smiled going over to the drawer and pulling out a pen and paper.

Anya frowned at Jak "Daddy, why have you got undressed again?" she asked only just noticing her father in just his shorts.

Jak chuckled "I needed a shower angel" he said walking up to her and hugging her "I'm very proud of both of you you know, very proud of how protective you are of your family" he smiled.

Keira nodded handed the note to Taj "You two are the best brother and sister any one could ask for" she beamed.

Taj kissed his mother and hugged his father "You taught us that" he grinned heading for the door with Anya behind.

When they got out side Taj nudged his sister "Why aren't you dressed daddy?" he imitated

Anya frowned "What, it's a simple enough question he was dressed when we left?" she defended.

Taj laughed "They we're having sex Anya"

Anya stopped walking "Who, Mama and Daddy?" she asked.

Taj stopped and looked at his sister with amusement "Yes Anya, Mama and Dad we're having sex" he chuckled.

She thought for a minute and then screwed up her eyes "Eeewwww, I didn't need to know that"

Taj laughed louder and hugged his sister "Come on little sis, we're already really late".

Anya and Lucie sat on the floor of the school gym in shorts and t-shirts putting on their pumps "So these kids actually told Damas he was a freak?" she asked.

"Yep, I was ready to kill them" Anya nodded

Lucie shook her head "Poor Damas" she looked over to where Taj stood with Rio and frowned at the way Taj was looking over at Marissa "So does Taj like Marissa?" she asked.

Anya looked over at her brother "I dunno, he said she was hot, but come on Lucie he thinks everyone's hot" she giggled.

"Not me anymore" Lucie said slumping down against the wall "He barely notices me anymore"

Anya smiled "All the other girls are only interested in his royal blood, you know he soon gets bored and comes back to you and do you know why?" she asked.

Lucie shrugged "'Cause I keep letting him use me?" she said bluntly.

"No because he really does like you and respects you, and he knows he can trust you, your more than just a quick fix to him" Anya said gently touching her friend's shoulder.

Lucie sighed "Maybe I'm getting tired of being just the best friend of his twin sister he can fool around with"

Anya looked over at her brother laughing with Marissa and Rio "Maybe you should tell him that" she said.

Lucie nodded "So you and Rio, are you excited?" she asked.

Anya sighed "I was, but after everything that happened this morning with Damas I've been thinking maybe I should stay home tonight, I think I need to be with my family" she said getting up.

Lucie stood up with her and the girls wandered over to Taj, Rio and Marissa. Anya frowned at Marissa and then turned to Taj "I need a word Prince Taj" she snapped.

Taj frowned but followed her to the back of the gym "What?" he snapped, Anya punched him in the arm "Owww, what the hell was that for?" he yelled rubbing his arm.

"Have you any idea how much it hurts watching someone you like flirting with someone else?" she spat

Taj blinked "What are you talking about?" he looked over at Lucie laughing with Rio and frowned "This is about Lucie, because I was talking to Marissa?" he asked.

"She really likes you Taj and all you do is use her" Anya said

Taj looked at his sister "I don't use her, I like her but I also like other girls, whats wrong with that?" he protested.

Anya sighed "Nothing, just don't lead her on" she said.

Taj huffed and rubbed his eyes "This is why I don't want you going out with Rio" he stated.

"Well I was thinking about that...maybe we should stay home tonight, be with the family y'know" Anya said.

Taj nodded "I was thinking the same, you gonna call off your date?" he asked

Anya looked over at Rio and sighed "I guess, hey he'll ask again won't he, if he's really interested?" she asked her brother.

Taj shook his head and started back over to his friends "Your still too good for him, I'll send him over" he sighed.

Anya watched as Taj nodded over to her and said something to Rio, he smiled and headed towards her "Hi" she breathed when he arrived in front of her.

"Hi" Rio smiled "Taj said you wanted to talk to me" he said

Anya nodded "I guess he told you what happened this morning with our little brother?" she enquired.

"Yeah, the little shits" Rio nodded.

Anya nodded again "Well I guess I just want to be with my family tonight, so I was thinking..."

"You wanna cancel our date?" Rio interrupted sadly

She shook her head "God no, not cancel it just postpone it for a week that's all"

Rio shrugged and shifted his feet uncomfortably "I guess we could do that"

Anya grabbed his hand and squeezed it "Hey, it only because Damas really needs us right now, if it wasn't for Taj I'm afraid..." she trailed off looking down.

Rio tilted her chin up and looked into her beautiful eyes now beginning to fill with tears "Afraid of what?" he whispered.

"You hear all these stories about how kids are bullied at school and...and they just fall to pieces, they break and I can't let that happen to my little brother, and what about Lexa what if they start picking on her" she shook her head and sniffed back the tears.

Rio quickly pulled her towards him and she buried her head in to his chest "Its going to be okay Anya, you have the best family I know".

"We didn't even notice how upset he was though Rio, none of us" she sobbed.

Across the gym Taj felt a pain in his chest and he frowned at Lucie "What?" she asked.

Taj scanned the room "Anya's hurt" he said bluntly before marching across to where he'd left his sister a minute before, Lucie following behind. When he got to them he looked up at Rio "What the hell did you do to her?" he yelled grabbing her arm and pulling his weeping sister into a hug "Did you have a go at her because she can't go out with you tonight?" he yelled.

Anya lifted her head "No Taj, it's not that I was...I'm just upset over Damas" she sniffed wiping her face.

Rio frowned at Taj "But nice to know you think I'd do that dude" he snapped.

"Dude, when it comes to my sister I would kill you before I let you hurt her, either of them" he said letting go of Anya slightly and looking at her "You okay?".

"Maybe school wasn't such a good idea" she sniffed nodding.

Taj nodded "Lucie take her to get changed, I'm gonna go call dad" he said.

"Y'know he felt it" Lucie said to Anya as they sat outside the school office waiting for Taj to come out.

Anya frowned and looked at her "Who felt what?" she asked confused.

"Taj, when you was upset, he felt it" Lucie smiled.

Anya nodded and smiled "We do have quite an amazing bond".

Jak stood in the headmasters office with Taj by his side "I appreciate that the twins have been through a lot this morning, but I just don't think taking them out of school is the best thing for it " he said to Jak.

"Well guess what pal, these are my children and I decide whats best for them, and if I decide I'm taking them home to be with their family then that's what I'll do" Jak snapped.

The headmaster sighed "But Taj is already behind on most of his school work, can he really afford to miss half a day?" he said.

Jak looked down at Taj and frowned, Taj looked up and smiled sheepishly before Jak's face broke out into a wide grin. He looked back up at the headmaster "When Prince Taj turns twenty-one all this bull shit you've been teaching him won't matter anyway" Jak spat "Now I am taking the twins home to be with their family, they'll be back Monday, come on son" he ordered and marched out the room.

Jak smiled at his daughter and she jumped up into his arms "Come on my little angel let's get you home" he smiled,he turned to Lucie and said "Thanks for looking after her Lucie, why don't you and Rio come over this weekend, you can help these two baby sit".

"Thanks , I'd love to, and you're welcome" she beamed.

Jak nodded and led his children out the school. Anya laughed as she sat down on the air train "What's so funny?" Jak asked her.

"Just how all my friends have this huge crush on my dad, it's so sick" she giggled.

Taj nodded "Yeah and all mine have a thing for Mama" he agreed.

"Well what can I say, I don't know about myself but I can certainly see why all Taj's friends have crushes on your mother" he chuckled.

A the sky turned black over Spargus City the Mar family sat snuggled up on the couch. Jak on one end his arm out stretched along the back his finger interlaced with Keira's as her arm stretched out from where she sat at the other end. Taj sat next to his mother, Anya snuggled up to her father and her little brother while Lexa sat in the middle of Taj and Anya hugging Taj.

Jak looked over to Keira as his thumb stroked hers, their eyes met and he smiled and winked.

"You know to say this day started off in the worst way, it's turned out kinda nice" Keira stated.

Taj turned to her and grinned "You should have seen the way dad had a go at our headmaster mama, it was ace" he chuckled.

"Why what did you say?" she asked smiling.

Jak chuckled "The dumb ass tried telling me what was best for my children, like I didn't know myself"

"And then when he said I was behind and I couldn't afford to miss half a day dad said I wouldn't need to know all that crap once I was king" Taj laughed.

Keira's eyes widened "You didn't?" she asked.

Jak nodded "It doesn't hurt to remind them who should be in charge of Haven, I'll probably get crap off Ashelin for it but so what, not like I've never had that before is it?"

Keira laughed "The first time I met you you we're heading into the throne room for a telling off"

Jak nodded "And you'd just left after having an argument with her"

Anya sat up and rubbed her eyes, she looked at Taj "Lucie said you felt it" she said.

Taj frowned "Felt what?" he asked.

"When I got upset, she said you felt it, have you felt me getting hurt before?" she asked

Jak and Keira smiled at each other "So you felt her pain?"

Anya laughed "I was just telling Rio I couldn't go out with him and I was trying to explain about Damas and I got upset, Taj thought Rio had upset me and he came stamping over and dragged me away from him and said he'd kill him before he let him hurt his sister, either of us"

"And me?" Lexa asked from in-between Taj and Anya.

Taj laughed and hugged her "Dad always taught me to look after my little sisters, and especially you Lex" he bent down to whisper "You my fave sister, but don't tell Anya".

Lexa giggled and hugged her brother, she looked at Damas alseep on his father's knee "Is Damas better now?" she asked.

"He will be baby girl" Jak smiled "Now let's get you lot to bed" he smiled getting up gently with Damas and heading upstairs as Keira followed with Lexa, leaving Anya and Taj on the couch.

"Thanks for looking after us Taj" Anya said quietly.

He shrugged "Hey I better get used to it, I'll have a whole city to run one day"

"I was thinking, about them saying Damas would never be king, well what if I didn't what to rule Haven City" she said

Taj frowned "Really, you'd give it to Damas?" he asked.

Anya nodded and smiled "Yeah why not, I mean I'd still be a princess I just wouldn't have the responsibility, look at daddy, he turned down the throne here and look how happy he is"

"But dad was never trained to run a city, he didn't know who he was until he was like eighteen, we're being trained for this" Taj said shaking his head.

Anya shrugged "I know, maybe in a few years I'll feel different, I mean all four of us are being trained so it doesn't really matter which one of us does the job just as long as its a Mar, and I want to do this for Damas"

Taj hugged his sister "I'm glad your my sister" he smiled.

"I'm glad too" she beamed.

As ever thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy. Just so you know I'll be away for the weekend so I probably won't be updating until about sunday, monday at the latest. You kids have fun. And massive thanks to Darksage for the lovely review, you really are too kind and you make me feel like I actually am okay at this. Thanks again. X X X X